Dispensing-can.



W. A. L. MILLER.

DISPENSING CAN.

urmouxon FILED APR. 11. 1910.

978,6 1 4, Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

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wmvsssss: uvvezvmk' W Iii/71km ALgMY/er @QM/ I A17 may WILLIAM A. L. MILLER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

DISPENSING-CAN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 11, 1910.

Patented Dec. 13, 1910. Serial No. 554,854.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, VVILLIAM A. L. MIL- Len, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Dispensing-Cans, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a dispensing can for liquids, such as oil cans and like receptacles from which it is desired to discharge limited quantities of liquid, and in order to aid such discharge to provide a means for admitting air to take the place of the liquid as it flows out when the can is inverted.

It consists in the combination of parts, and in details of construction which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of the invention partially in section. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the can in its tilted position.

Various devices have been employed for admitting air into oil and like cans when the can is inverted or tilted to discharge the liquid, but such air-admitting devices have been located in the head or top of the can, and in such position that when the can is inverted, the air admitting device is frequently partially or wholly submerged, and the air must flow up through the liquid, and such openings will sometimes allow the liquid to flow out through them as well as through the intended discharge nozzle.

In my invention I provide the can with an air-admitting opening close to the bottom, and a spring-pressed valve hermetically closing said opening, with means by which it may be readily opened to admit air after the can has been tilted to discharge through the nozzle, and means by which the valve may be closed and prevented from opening when the can is in its normal upright position.

As I have illustrated my invention, A is a can with a nozzle B through which it is designed to discharge liquid, and the can may have a filling opening shown at C. The handle 2 is fixed to the side of the can for convenient use, and the upper curve of the handle, where it joins the can, is slotted as shown at 3.

4 is a lever fulcrumed as shown at 5, and a spring 6 acts to force the lower end of the lever constantly toward the bottom of the can. This lower end of the lever carries a valve 9 which fits over an opening 10 made contiguous to the bottom of the can.

The valve is of leather, rubber, or other suitable material, designed to form a hermetical closure to the opening when pressed against it, and the spring acts to provide such pressure and maintain the valve in its closed position.

The upper end of the lever 4 extends through the slotted opening 3 at the top of the handle, and through the upper exposed end of the lever passes a screw 7 having a milled head 8 by which it is easily turned. This screw may be turned so that its point presses against the side of the can, and thus forces the upper end of the lever outward, and the lower end is caused to press the valve firmly to its seat, and prevent a possibility of leakage while the can is in upright position.

When the can is to be used, the operator may, by movement of the thumb, while grasping the handle of the can, turn the screw backwardly and away from the side of the can, thus allowing the upper end of the lever to be pressed inwardly by the thumb, while holding the can handle and the lower end of the lever, and the valve correspondingly moved outwardly. This action will not take place untilv the can has been tilted suflicicntly to remove the liquid from the valve opening, and to place it in position to discharge through the nozzle. Air will then be admitted in snificient quan tities to replace the liquid and allow it to move freely.

The device is particularly serviceable for oil cans which are designed for use where the parts to be oiled are difficult of access, and for other similar purposes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat-- ent is 1. The combination with a dispensing can having a pouring spout at the upper portion and an air inlet near the bottom, of a valve closablc over said inlet, a handle fixed to the side of the can having an opening in the top a lever vertically fulcrumed to the side 0 the can, said lever bein substantially parallel with and located between the handle and the side of the can, and having a valve on its lower end adapted to close the air inlet, and a locking device at the upper end of the lever adapted to engage the same and look the valve.

2. The combination with a dispensing can having a pouring spout at the upper portion and an air inlet near the bottom, said can having a handle, of a lever fulcrumed to the side of the can and extending vertically, said lever having a valve at the lower end engaging the air inlet and having an adjusting screw at the upper end for looking the valve in its closed position.

3. The combination with a dispensing can having an opening near the bottom, of a handle fixed to the side of the can having a slotted opening in the top, a lever vertically fulcrumed to the side of the can, to the lower end of which lever the valve is fixed, a screw passing through the upper end of the lever and adapted to hermetically lock the valve.

4. The combination with a dispensing can having an opening near the bottom and a handle at the side, with a slotted opening at the top, of a spring-pressed lever fulcrumed t0 the side of the can having a valve at the lower end normally closable over the opening, the upper end of said lever projecting through and exposed above the slot in the handle, and a screw passing through said handle adapted to press against the side of the can and maintain the valve in closed position said screw having a turnable head whereby it may be withdrawn to allow pressure to be applied to open the valve.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM A. L. MILLER. Witnesses RAYMOND A. LEONARD, G ARLns EDELMAN. 

